So here we are.
These are my choices for the top four teams in the 2011-12 college basketball season.
They’re the same four names you’ll see atop most of the preseason ratings you’ve perused although you may not have spied the same No. 1, unless you’ve bought a copy of Lindy’s Preseason Magazine.
And there is a reason: I made the Top 25 choices for that magazine.
Compelling arguments could be made – by me – for making any of the following teams No. 1.
We should be so fortunate to see each of these teams in New Orleans this spring . . .
No. 4 CONNECTICUT
WHY: This is a deeper and more physically gifted team than the one that won the national title last spring, especially if speedy freshman Ryan Boatright is ultimately cleared by the NCAA to play this season. The addition of Andre Drummond to go with returnee Alex Oriahki – who should have been selected Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four – gives Jim Calhoun as good as set of starting posts as there is this season. In fact, in sophomores Shabazz Napier (at the point) and Jeremy Lamb and Roscoe Smith, the Huskies’ starting perimeter is as good as it gets this season, as well.
WHY NOT: What if Napier and Lamb – and whoever else – can’t compensate for the loss of the shot-making skill, leadership and brazen confidence that Kemba Walker provided?
No. 3 KENTUCKY
WHY: The latest mega-freshman class of John Calipari is rightfully fawned over. But the sophomore holdovers – Terrence Jones, one of the five best returnees in the country, and Doron Lamb – will lead the Wildcats in scoring. Couple that pair with seniors Darius Miller and Eloy Vargas, and the freshmen – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Anthony Davis, Marquis Teague and Kyle Wiltjer – and this is a deeper squad than the one that lost to Connecticut in Houston last spring.
WHY NOT: What is Teague doesn’t evolve into the sound decision-maker and “true point guard” the Wildcats will need him to be Calipari’s on-floor manager of all of those gifted players?
No. 2 NORTH CAROLINA
WHY: The Tar Heels have four (Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, John Henson and Kendall Marshall) of the 12 to 15 best non-freshmen in the country – and two of the 10 best frosh in James Michael McAdoo and P.J. Hairston. If it’s possible for a UNC player to be “underrated”, then Zeller is the most underrated center in the country. And Barnes is the most explosive perimeter scorer in college.
WHY NOT: The loss (to summer knee injury) of Leslie McDonald takes a terrific jump shooter out of the equation for Roy Williams’ squad. And what if the Tar Heels don’t become an exceptional defensive unit?
No. 1 OHIO STATE
WHY: Jared Sullinger is a solid choice to be the 2012 John R. Wooden Award winner, and the presence of point guard Aaron Craft and wing DeShaun Thomas gives Thad Matta the best trio of sophomores wearing the same uniforms. But, consider this: senior William Buford (14.4 ppg and 44 percent on 3s last season) may lead the Buckeyes in scoring. And this is a deeper squad than the one that was 34-3 in 2010-11.
WHY NOT: Buford and the other OSU jump shooters are cold and Sullinger’s inside presence is negated by “length”.
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